Guide to filing a mechanics lien in Bronx County

New York’s lien laws are extremely generous. If you’re facing non-payment after a construction project in Bronx County, chances are you’ll have the ability to file a mechanics lien with the Bronx County Clerk with little to no issue. However, there are rules, regulations, and limitations that you should be aware of. You can use this page as a guide for the information you need to successfully record your lien claim with the Bronx County Clerk.

To get started, here are a few noteworthy limitations within New York State lien law:

  1. There are a few parties who can’t file a lien claim. One of the best things about New York lien law is that most parties on a construction project have the right to file a mechanics lien. The only parties who cannot include unlicensed contractors who are doing work that requires a license, suppliers to suppliers, and parties that aren’t authorized to work in New York.
  2. Preliminary notices are not required. New York lien law is unique in that lien claimants don’t need to submit a preliminary notice to the property owner before filing a lien. There are a few exceptions to this rule, though.
  3. If an agent is filing the lien on your behalf, you need to include a signed document that grants authority with your lien claim. This is another reason why New York lien law is unique. In other states, this step is not required; however, in New York, lien claimants need to present a document that authorizes a separate party to file their mechanics lien with their lien claim.
  4. Participants working on a single family residential party have less time to file. The general deadline to file a mechanics lien in New York is eight months after the last furnishing of work. However, if you’re working with a single family residential construction project, you only have four months to file a lien claim.

Although New York’s lien law is relatively forgiving, we highly recommend that you continue your research on our New York Mechanics Lien Guide and FAQs. You can also find the lien documents you need to file there.

The Bronx County Clerk has its own requirements that you need to adhere to. Below is a description of the Bronx County Clerk’s recording fees, recording requirements, formatting requirements, contact information, and more.

For a walkthrough of the entire New York mechanics lien process or information regarding how you can quickly eFile your mechanics lien with Levelset, refer to our Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a Mechanics Lien in New York.

Where is the Bronx County Clerk's Office that files mechanic's liens?

You can file your mechanic liens in person at the Bronx County Business Center located at:

City Register
3030 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor
Bronx, NY 10455

Office Hours

8:30am-4:30pm
Monday-Friday
(Closed Public Holidays)

The Bronx County also accepts documents electronically.

All recordable documents that you submit to the City Register’s Office can be e-recorded using the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS).

To record your documents electronically, visit www.nyc.gov/acris.

Pay any taxes or fees by (eCheck and credit cards).

Call the ACRIS Help Line at (212) 487-6300 for assistance or Email the ACRIS Help Desk here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/finance/about/contact-by-email/contact-acris-technical-support.page

Contact the Division of Land Records here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/finance/about/contact-by-email/contact-recording-documents-general.page

What is Bronx County's Recording Backlog?

The Bronx County does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog.

Should I file my mechanic's lien in Bronx County?

If your construction project is located in Bronx County, then yes, you should file your lien here.

What are Bronx County's requirements for recording a mechanic's lien?

The Bronx County Clerk follows the regulations outlined by New York Lien law. Their recording requirements are as follows:

1. Include your name, address, and other basic information. If you have an attorney, include theirs as well.
2. Include the property owner’s name, address, and other basic information. If you’re having trouble tracking it down, search ACRIS, a database service
that allows you to record and review property documents.
3. After that, provide the information for the party that hired you.
4. Next, draft up a statement of labor and materials furnished for the job.
5. Using that draft, calculate the lien cost. This is the most important step, and getting that number exactly right is vital. Otherwise, you could
face significant fines.
6. Include the first and last performance dates. In other words, the date work on the project started and the date work on the project stopped.
7. Provide the property’s legal description. This can be found on ACRIS, or you could visit the Bronx County Clerk in person to find it.
8. The last step is having your lease notarized, witnessed, and signed.

In New York, you have 30 days to serve the property owner with a copy. Otherwise, the lien is invalidated.

What are the margin & page size requirements to file a lien in Bronx County?

The Bronx County Clerk follows the state’s regulations here too. They are:

1. The maximum paper size in 8.5 x 14.
2. Font can be no smaller than 8 point.
3. In order to be legible to the Optical Imaging System, you should only use black ink on white paper.

These formatting requirements are strictly enforced, and failure to meet them results in dismissal of your lien claim.

How can I make payment to the Bronx County Clerk?

All fees may be paid by cash, check, or money order. Check should be made out to the Bronx County Clerk.

What are the filing fees to record a mechanic's lien in Bronx County?

The Bronx County’s recording fees are as follows:

Recording Fees

Real Estate Documents: $32.00 + $5.00 per page + $5.00 for Cover Page. Minimum for 2 pages = $42.00 ($32.00 + 1 Cover Page + 1 document page). Note: One 2 sided page counts as 2 pages.

Lien Fees

Mechanic’s Lien: $30.00
Affidavit of Service for Mechanic’s Liens: $5.00

Copy Fees

Business Records, Certified Copy: $10.00

How do I get a recorded copy of my lien from the Bronx County Clerk's Office?

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien in person at the Bronx County Business Center located at:

City Register
3030 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor
Bronx, NY 10455

Office Hours

8:30am-4:30pm
Monday-Friday
(Closed Public Holidays)

You can now request electronic certified copies of real and personal property documents recorded in ACRIS. Before requesting electronic certified copies, make sure that the recipient of your documents is willing to receive them in an electronic format.

The Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) allows you to search property records and view document images for Bronx from 1966 to the present.

You can access ACRIS here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/finance/taxes/acris.page

Access to a copy of a lien may require paying a fee.